Health and Wellness
Kilmer K-8 Health Services
The Upper School and Lower School each have a dedicated nurse. Her job is to examine an injured or ill child, treat minor injuries and refer the child for medical care if necessary. She also maintains student health records as required by state law.
It is extremely important that families list emergency numbers on your emergency card and update them whenever a number changes. Be sure to let your backup contacts know they are on the emergency list and know how to get to the school.
Lower School Nurse Natalie Moran
Upper School Nurse Kristie McManus
Medication
If your child needs to take medication during the school day or has a serious allergy, please contact the school nurse. Please keep the nurse informed of any changes in your child's health status and of prescription medication intended for long-term use.
Medication is administered only by the school nurse and is stored in a locked cabinet. For their own safety, students should neither transport medication to and from school nor keep medicine, except an inhaler, in their possession during the school day.
Medication must be supplied to the school nurse in its appropriate dosage and in the original pharmacy container. A written order from the student's licensed health care provider and a consent form signed by the student's parent or guardian must be submitted to the school. This applies to daily medications, inhalers, Epi-Pens, and medications administered.
Allergies
Due to an increasing number of students in our school with food allergies, the Kilmer School asks for all families to avoid nut products in school . Students and families who bring any food to school should make every effort to avoid bringing nut products or products processed in factories that produce nut products to school. Foods processed in factories that produce nut products may contain trace amounts of nuts. If you send in products containing nuts please label the outside of the lunch bag "contains nut products".
For severely allergic children, even touching a trace amount of nuts can cause serious harm. For this reason, families should comply with the policy even if no one in their child's class has a nut allergy, because the classes use many of the same spaces throughout the day. Most products carry labels disclosing whether they contain nuts or have been processed in factories that produce nut products. Complying with the nut-free policy can save a child's life.
When to Stay Home
Generally, children who are well enough to come to school should be able to participate in all activities, including outdoor recess. Notify the school when your child will be absent due to illness or injury. We want students to have good attendance but there may be times when you are too ill to come to school. You cannot learn when you are ill and you risk infecting others if you have a communicable disease.
These guidelines are suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
When a child is ill, the following steps should be taken:
Assess acuity of child
Notify the school nurse
Keep the student home
Reach out to their healthcare provider
We ask that community members experiencing these symptoms stay home for 24-hours after any symptoms of illness resolve:
Fever
An elevation of body temperature above normal ( oral 100.4ºF ) AND accompanied by behavior changes, stiff neck, difficulty breathing, rash, sore throat, and/or other signs or symptoms of illness; or is unable to participate.
Unable to participate in routine activities or needs more care than can be provided by the school staff.
Students need to stay home for 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal without any fever reducing medications, such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined as an increased number of stools compared with a child's normal pattern, along with decreased stool form and/or stools that are watery, bloody, or contain mucus.
Exclude until 24 hours after diarrhea stops or follow specific disease exclusion if the pathogen is known (norovirus, salmonella, etc); or until a medical exam indicates that it is not due to a communicable disease.
Vomiting
Child has vomited two or more times in the previous 24 hours.
Exclude for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting, or until the child is able to tolerate a meal without vomiting.
If it is NOT communicable, the family and their clinician will need to discuss how to manage continued vomiting.
Respiratory
Respiratory infections are common. If the child does not have fever, does not appear to have decreased activity or other symptoms, it is not necessary for the child to stay home.
Respiratory Hygiene and etiquette should be promoted.
It is preferred to begin each year with reviewing guidelines with staff so that they understand the process and that there are clear guidelines.
Persistent Coughing
Could be caused by many illnesses.
Students experiencing persistent coughing should see their primary care provider and stay home until it is resolved.
Fatigue
Symptoms include lingering tiredness, paleness, lack of appetite, difficult time waking, confusion and irritability.
Students should stay home until they are well, or have seen their primary care provider.
Strep Throat or Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Illnesses for which primary care providers have diagnosed and prescribed treatment.
Students must stay home 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics.
Injuries
Any student who has sustained an injury (stitches, sprain, fracture, etc.) that was treated by a physician and who will have restricted activity for a limited period of time must bring a note from the physician stating the nature of the restrictions and when the student may resume participation in physical education class. The student will not be allowed to return to physical education until this note is received.
Forms
HIPAA Release Form - Permits school nurses to communicate with the student's other healthcare providers.
Medication Authorization Form - Authorizes the school nurse to give prescribed medications, such as asthma inhalers, epi-pens, and daily medications, during school hours.
Medication Self-Administration Form - Allows the student to self-administer certain medications at school without the nurse present. Useful for medications like asthma inhalers that require immediate use.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Medication Authorization Form - Authorizes the school nurse to provide over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol, Motrin, and Benadryl.
Immunization Requirements
Massachusetts Immunization Requirements
According to state law, students must be vaccinated for certain diseases before they may enter school. The Boston Public Schools requires that students have immunizations that are up-to-date for school entry when they register for school. By Massachusetts law, students who do not provide documentation of current immunization status (includes dates of each immunization) could be asked to leave school until the student is fully immunized. Documentation of immunizations is extremely important. Parents are responsible for keeping immunizations current and informing the school nurse when their child has received additional immunizations. School nurses review immunization records regularly.
Special Situations. Except in an emergency or epidemic, students may start school if a parent or guardian presents a written statement (1) from a physician that their child has not been immunized for medical reasons, or (2) that the child has not been immunized due to his or her religious beliefs.
Physical Exam Requirements
The physical exam provides the school nurse with important information to maintain health and safety in the school, especially for new entrants. Parents of new students should ensure the nurse receives a physical exam within 2 weeks of school entrance. When a child has a chronic disease, such as diabetes or sickle cell disease, the nurse will need more detailed information. In order to work together with the student’s clinician, the parent or guardian should sign a consent to share the medical information. The Chronic Disease section discusses this in more detail.
Click the link above to see fact sheets on chronic conditions and specific diseases/illnesses
Remember to contact the school and send in a note for absences.